-- "Follow the White Rabbit": Interactive feature jumps from a scene to a featurette on the effects that shaped the scene; nine "White Rabbit" featurettes in all (stuff like this bugs. You have to keep looking for the damn bunny)

-- Take the Red Pill to two hidden special effects documentaries: "What Is the Concept?", a dazzling musical-montage journey from sketch to final effect; and "What Is Bullet Time?", the anatomy of the trailblazing technique (been there, done that)

-- "Preload: On the Set of Reloaded": Exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of the May 15 theatrical release "The Matrix Reloaded" (I've spent many month trying to avoid being spoiled for this, I'm not going to pay for the privilege)

-- Two mind-blowing episodes from "The Animatrix: The Second Renaissance, Parts 1&2" (will be found here)

-- Marilyn Manson music video - "Rock is Dead" (barf)

-- "What is the game?": teaser for the new "Enter the Matrix" videogame (teasers for games? what's the world coming to?)

-- Six behind-the-scenes featurettes on "The Matrix" (Ooooh! featurettes is such a cute word! bah.)

-- The Music Revisited: sample up to three hours worth of audio music tracks of the music from the world of "The Matrix" (I don't have time to listen to the music I already own. Plus I think this is already on Revisited)

-- The Art Revisited: multiple stills galleries with over 800 images (funny thing about movies...they move. Who wants to watch a slideshow? Buy the book.)

I doubt I'll be buying it, but go nuts. I'm holding out until 2004, when the big end-all be-all boxed set with all three films, Revisited, Animatrix and Wachowski-freaking-home-movies all packaged in a holographic foil-wrapped scale model of an embryo pod with a sound chip that says "I know kung-fu!" everytime you open it.

I'm sure I'll be buying the Reloaded and Revolutions DVDs when they come out, because the most agonizing time is that span between when the movie leaves the theaters and it's available for home viewing. I spent WAY too much on video copies of The Gift and Hardball because I didn't have a DVD player but wanted to see them. In fact, for what I paid, I pretty much could have gotten a player at the time. I'm dumb that way sometimes.

I guess I'm just not as enamored with DVDs as I should be. I've been disappointed in a lot of "extras". Have you noticed that most of the time, the audio on "deleted scenes" sucks? That was the only reason I bought a DA disc and I was almost pissed.
I've tried watching DVDs with the commentary feature on.....drove me nuts. I don't like that shit in the theater, why should I want someone going on and distracting me in my own home? Shut up already, and let me enjoy the film.
Behind-the-Scenes and "Making of..." is interesting, to a point. But really...Movies are Magic. And when you know how the CGI was done and where to look for the wires and all that, it takes a little of that magic away.
Part of me doesn't want that.

Now I sure hope it doesn't make me any less of a fan, that I resist throwing money at every carrot that this franchise waves in front of me (mix metaphors much, krix?), but good grief, if I did I'd be as orange as an oompa-loompa by now. *OH! free idea, marketing people! These DVDs need FIVE GOLDEN TICKETS to the premiere. Then I'd buy one.*

I will say, if you don't already have Revisited and you don't plan on going to the official site and checking out The Animatrix stuff ("The Second
Renaissance, Parts 1&2" extra? Available on the net soon), and you love sitting there with your forty-leven button remote looking for "easter eggs" and you have an awesome home theater system that will make the music tracks sound like Don Davis is waving his baton from your couch, buy this.

Buy it and I'll come over and watch it with you, I'll even bring the beer.

It's less than thirty bucks and hell, you get a free movie ticket with it.
I'm saving my money for popcorn and raisinettes on the 15th.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You're starting to resemble the fruit of a prickly pear cactus: covered with sharp, inedible spikes on the outside but soft and delectable in your hidden places. There's probably a good reason for this, so I won't ask you to change. Don't be surprised or upset, though, if people act as if they've been stung when they brush up against you. And if you care about them, be quick to let them know how to work around the thorny exterior and get to the good parts within.

"When I began to write NEUROMANCER, there was no "cyberpunk". THE MATRIX is arguably the ultimate "cyberpunk" artifact. Or will be, if the sequels don't blow. I hope they don't, and somehow have a hunch they won't, but I'm glad I'm not the one who has to worry about it. "

That's just an excerpt, go read the whole thing. (I really recommend reading the whole entry, but if you just want to read the Matrix stuff, scroll way down to where it says: "THE MATRIX: FAIR COP")

For all his charm, good looks and charisma, Keanu remains a Hollywood Bachelor. Being happily single myself, I don't see anything wrong with that.
Some people just aren't ready. Some will never be ready.

Now, I'm not going to say that Mr. Reeves is not "marriage material", but here are a few reasons that it might be better that he remains happily unbetrothed.

Leaves used floss and q-tips all over the bathroom sink

Plays bass in his sleep.......at full volume.

Insists on keeping an annoying answering machine message sung to the theme to "Bewitched"

"If you're married in The Matrix, do you have to sign a 'pre-nup' in real life?"

Already committed to pre-arranged marriage into the House Harkonnen, for the good of the Empire.

Potential mates put off by the fact that he waxes poetic about urination.

Irrational fear of big cakes and cheesy DJs.

Worst. Morning. Breath. EVER.

Has over a dozen "same time, next year" arrangements across the globe.

Picked his own square in the Dogstar bachelor pool.

I imagine he has his reasons, and they probably aren't so complicated.
One thing I'm sure of, it's not for a lack of willing candidates.

The only good thing that happened this morning was when the dental tech who was torturing me asked if I was still in high school. If I could've felt my lips I would have jumped up and kissed her. As it was, I managed to drool a little "thank you" spittle onto my paper bib.

Thanks again to Ann for the care package, I plan on curling up with my therapillow soon.

Thank you to Rhonda for sending me the link to this fun article from Sky magazine, 1994

Women who love Keanu too much
Sky, October 94 (UK):

What's Keanu got that other stud-muffins haven't? A million obsessed women could tell you, and Toni Rodgers is one of them

There is a poster of Keanu Reeves and it's the best poster of him in the whole world. I know this because many people have told me so. Its popularity has nothing to do with photographic technique (grainy black and white); nothing to do with the allurinng nuance of his expression; and, regrettably, nothing to do with him not wearing many clothes at all. No, the overriding attraction of this image proves, once and for all, that size matters. This is the best poster in the whole word because it is life-size. A leather-jeaned, leather-jerkined Keanu (only Keanu can lose the jerk in jerkin), cloned to six-foot-something printed perfection.
This picture graces most Holly Hobbit-wallpapered, Laura Ashley-bedcovered, Zig and Zag-slipper filled teenage girls' rooms in the land. It also graces my friend Lexy's. A 23-year-old Cambridge graduate who works in something to do with digital information networks, Lexy lives in the sort of flat where you're offered balsamic vinegar for your fish and chips.

Keanu is lovingly (and largely) stuck to her bedroom door. "Doesn't such an ... um ... obvious crush [i.e., teenage-type tendency to garnish your bedroom with overblown, some would say immature, posters] come between you and your boyfriends?" I asked one day. "No," she retorted, archly. "My boyfriends come between me and Keanu."

Owners of a Life-size Keanu Part Two: my mate Fan (hey, how, like, appropriate). Keanu's place of residence: the toilet door. "So," I queried, one day, "doesn't Mike [her partner] mind your poster?" "Hmph," she replied, and before aspersions could be cast, she continued...

One evening, Fan had been musing on how it would feel to actually be with Keanu Reeves. And what with his feet being too high off the ground to get an accurate measure, she carefully peeled him off the wall and lay him on the living-room floor. And prostrated herself on top of him, foot to foot, knee to knee... just to see how it would feel, you understand. Only Mike, who came in from work a tad earlier than usual, didn't quite see it that way.

After a ranting tirade about Keanu's lack of acting skills, Mike slammed out of the room, but not before stopping to lob one last jibe: "I always knew I'd have a problem respecting a woman who liked Keanu Reeves."

Which kind of paraphrases another incident that occurred between my friend Jodie and her new man. Having caught the bus home together they were playing "You show me your bus-pass photo and I'll show you mine." Jay's was fine - he looked like something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie. Jodie's was fine. Except neatly lined up next to her own photo was a teen-mag sticker of Keanu Reeves. And uniting the two of them was another sticker bearing the following slogan: I love him -->.

Jay's comment? "You fucking saddo."

Now this suggests troubled times ahead for Mike and Jay. For I can swear, hand on my Keanu dream-boy T-shirt, that women who don't like the one of Keanu straddling his Norton Commando are rarer than shots of Pamela Anderson in a polo-neck. So what is it about Keanu that makes him so universally lusted-after by women? What sets him apart from all the Johnnys, Christians, Brads and Ethans? What makes a 10-year-old-girl stick a poster of him on her bedroom wall and thirtysomething Emma Thompson thank him in her BAFTA acceptance speech for Much Ado About Nothing for "getting undressed in front of me"?

But no, the real point about Keanu is this. He might be the perfect modern guy whose soul you can bond with (you won't catch him phwooaring over Pamela Anderson photos in a self-consciously laddy way or fretting about his masculinity like your average confused 90s bloke). And yet, whether by luck or judgment, the publicity-wary Keanu has managed to retain that thing so elusive to a modern movie star: mystery. He doesn't desperately date supermodels, turn up at baseball matches with Madonna or have a posse of naff personal bodyguards. And, unlike most devastatingly good-looking men, he doesn't have the I-know-I'm-beautiful swagger (cocky Tom Cruise, virtually any male supermodel). Somehow the fact that he's so unconscious of his beauty makes him more male. But what really sets Keanu apart from Christian, Johnny etc. is that you feel you don't know him. And if you did know him he might be, unlike Christian etc. etc., interesting. OK, so I know this sounds hopelessly corny - that's the problem with explaining Keanu, especially to men. It all comes out horribly wrong, You start mentioning words like "Zen," "Complex," "Beautiful, generous goofball" and "That curious open quality," and they fall about laughing.

Still, while we're explaining, guys, we also like the way he says the word "Fuck." It's inimitably endearing. Hugh Grant should take note.

Let us briefly backtrack to my Keanu dream-boy T-shirt. An item of many modish qualities (designed to fit a robust 10-year-old, adorned with a distorted Keanu head and equally illegible graphics), it was last night being sported by moi down my local.

"Cool T-shirt," says bloke, with smiley, thumbs-up gesture.

Me: "Cheers."

He: "Who's the picture of?"
Me: "Keanu."

He: "Oh, riiiiiight... you're using him as a kitsch cultural icon are you?"

Me: "Nah, I'm just being a fan."

He: "Nah. You're just being crap." Exeunt.

Let's now take another boy's view of Keanu. My mate Jack was getting on pretty well with Lily. They'd been out a few times, shared a few good-night kisses. And then one night she asked him in for "coffee." Jack sat in the living room while Lily made like a Gold Blend ad. Tired of making conversation through a hatch, Jack entered the kitchen.

And there he was. Keanu. Life-size. But this wasn't just any old usage of The Best Poster in the World. This was a deification. Wilting daisy chains were stuck around his neck. Fresh flowers blossomed in a vase at his feet. Photos of Lily and her mate Helen were worshipfully collaged around the edge.

Lily took note of Jack's mortified silence. "That's our shrine to Keanu," she said, with an "Oh yeah, that's my brother on his graduation day" blandness. Still Jack didn't speak.

"This," she said, pointing to a folded piece of cardboard with Keanu Reeves typed on it, "Is HIS place-name from a restaurant in Cannes. He touched it... Look... just here... that's his fingerprint."

Jack was just beginning to wonder how he could get himself off the hook when Lily bowled him over. "And this is a bottle of massage oil like the one they used on Keanu in Much Ado About Nothing. I've always wanted to re-enact that scene. [Pause] Interested?" Jack now thinks Keanu isn't so bad - after all, he did do all his own stunts in Point Break and Speed...

Note how, as part of her shrine, Lily had a Keanu Reeves name-card. A mate managed to swipe it when she sat next to him at dinner. Keanu's like that. Mortals get to share napkins with him; have a drink with him; go clubbing with him; knock on his hotel door and have it answered by him; meet him once and then have him pull up in his car as he drives by some days later to say "Hi"; I know this, because all of the above have happened to friends of mine.

Take my mate Jane, a journalist. She heard that Keanu needed someone to get him access to the retirement home of the British gentry, the Reform Club - it was during the shooting of Dracula and Keanu wanted to brush up on his English accent (see, at least he tries). Jane trawled through her entire family till she found some distant, white-haired fogey who had membership. A date was set.

Keanu, Jane and the old duffer spent a lovely evening drinking gin together until finally Keanu had to go. Being a polite young man, he asked Jane if she'd like to continue her evening with him - dining with Richard E. Grant and Grant's wife. Unthinkingly, Jane said no thank you, she'd already agreed to meet some mates at a pub in Brixton (I know, don't even ask). So Keanu went off to order cabs for everyone. Half an hour later, Jane arrived at her destination and asked the driver how much she owed him. " Nothing," came the reply. "The American bloke who booked the car settled up in advance."

OK- what I really need to know is, do these posters still exist?
Is this the poster that inspired the song?
Is it a Brad Fierce picture like the one I included in the entry?
Or....*gasp*...dare I dream it, my favorite coy leatherboy of sidebar fame?
You realize that I MUST HAVE ONE if that's the case.

Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' groundbreaking short film "The Final Flight of the Osiris" will accompany the worldwide theatrical release of Castle Rock Entertainment's and Village Roadshow Pictures' supernatural thriller "Dreamcatcher," opening nationwide on March 21.
Inspired by the visionary action and innovative storytelling that power "The Matrix," "The Final Flight of the Osiris" is a nine minute computer generated short that serves as an explosive prelude to "The Matrix Reloaded."
This spectacular fusion of CG-animation and Japanese anime is one of nine short films that comprise "The Animatrix," a collection of stunningly visual stories that delve further into the mind-bending world of The Matrix and the characters who inhabit it. The film series was conceived by the Wachowski Brothers, the creators of "The Matrix" trilogy, who wrote four of the nine "Animatrix" episodes including "The Final Flight of the Osiris." The collection also features the directing talents of the world's foremost anime filmmakers.

Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures will release "The Animatrix" worldwide on DVD and videocassette on June 3, between the theatrical release of the next two chapters in the "Matrix" trilogy: "The Matrix Reloaded," opening May 15; and "The Matrix Revolutions," coming to theaters in November 2003.
In addition, four of "The Animatrix" shorts will be streamed for free at www.theanimatrix.com prior to the collection's DVD and video release.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to offer fans unprecedented access to four of the `Animatrix' shorts prior to the DVD release," said Joel Silver, producer of `The Matrix' films. "The original content of the films and the clarity with which they will be streamed is truly extraordinary."
Beginning February 4, the following "Animatrix" episodes will be streamed free for fans:

-- "The Second Renaissance - Part 1" (Streaming February 4). Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski; Directed by Mahiro Maeda. This epic two-part story delves into the history of the war between mankind and the Machines and the genesis of The Matrix itself.
-- "Program" (Streaming in March). Written and Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. In the simulated world of a Samurai training program, a soldier of Zion is forced to choose between love and her comrades in the Real World.
-- "Detective Story" (Streaming in April). Written and Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. Film noir meets anime in this story of a hard-boiled private eye who tracks cyber-criminal Trinity (voiced by Carrie-Anne Moss) through the looking glass.
-- "The Second Renaissance - Part 2" (Streaming in May). Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski; Directed by Mahiro Maeda. The dramatic conclusion of the story behind humanity's downfall and ultimate enslavement by the Machines.

"The Wachowski Brothers' vision for `The Matrix' is one that extends far beyond the theatrical trilogy, and the world they have created is so rich that we've chosen to tell these inter-connected `Matrix'-related stories in multiple mediums," Silver continued. "`The Animatrix' takes fans beyond the boundaries of the movie screen and into the vast realm of The Matrix, introducing them to new characters and scenarios that further the trilogy's mythology and amplify their cinematic experience. In particular, `The Final Flight of the Osiris' serves as chapter 1.5 in the `Matrix' trilogy, giving fans an electrifying ride though the events that occur following `The Matrix' and directly impact the story told in the video game `Enter the Matrix.' In turn, this chain of action sets off `The Matrix Reloaded.' It's not crucial that fans see `Final Flight' or play `Enter the Matrix' to enjoy `The Matrix Reloaded,' but their movie-going experience will be immeasurably enhanced and they will gain a deeper understanding of the world of The Matrix."
Written and developed The Wachowski Brothers, "Enter the Matrix" is due for release on May 15. One example of the connection between "Final Flight" and "Enter the Matrix" can be seen in the game when the character of Niobe, played in both mediums by Jada Pinkett Smith, must retrieve and relay information obtained by the crew of the Osiris to the rebel fleet or face extinction at the hands of the Machine Army.
"The Final Flight of the Osiris" is written by Larry and Andy Wachowski and directed by Andy Jones. Under attack from the Machine Army, the rebel warriors aboard the hovercraft Osiris attempt to send a vital message to the citizens of Zion, the last human city on Earth.
"We're extremely excited to have `The Final Flight of the Osiris' accompany our worldwide release of `Dreamcatcher,'" said Martin Shafer, CEO, Castle Rock Entertainment. "The film's highly stylized storytelling and explosive style are the perfect compliment to Lawrence Kasdan's supernatural thriller. And as fans of `The Matrix,' we're thrilled to give audiences their first theatrical glimpse at the events that shape the next two chapters in the trilogy."
"As a huge fan of `The Matrix,' I'm thrilled to have `Dreamcatcher' be the first place in the world for people to see `The Final Flight of the Osiris,'" said Lawrence Kasdan. "I've seen this incredibly seductive piece of storytelling and it ranks up there with the original film's groundbreaking invention."
In "Dreamcatcher," based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, four young friends perform a heroic act and are changed forever by the uncanny powers they gain in return. Years later, on a hunting trip in the Maine woods, they are overtaken by a blizzard, a vicious storm in which something much more ominous moves. Challenged to stop a deadly alien force, they confront an unparalleled horror, with the fate of the world in the balance. "Dreamcatcher" stars Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Sizemore and Donnie Wahlberg. The film is directed by Lawrence Kasdan ("Body Heat," "The Big Chill," "Silverado," "Grand Canyon," "French Kiss"); the screenplay by Kasdan and Academy Award-winning writer William Goldman ("Misery," "All the President's Men," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid").
In "The Matrix Reloaded," freedom fighters Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of The Matrix and Neo's pivotal role in the fate of mankind.
"Dreamcatcher" and "The Matrix Reloaded" will be distributed worldwide in 2003 by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Keanu Reeves is hot. So hot he's a recurring character in my attempts at writing fiction. So hot he makes cameos in my dreams. So hot that when this vision of nothingness materializes on-screen, I lose my head and blissfully swallow any Keanu-coated illusion he's trying to sell - even the hardened businessman routine in Sweet November. (The film also reveals that Keanu is in dire need of some sun and looks much better as a surfer. But I digress.)

Some may mistake Keanu's vacant prettiness for lack of abilities in the acting department. Fools! Keanu's very allure is his absence of gritty, memorable, or defining qualities; those chiseled-jaw calling cards of traditional leading men. While most actors in Hollywood romances personify one of several multi-faceted stereotypes - tormented musician, sexy criminal, father figure - gorgeous Keanu is whoever you want him to be. The man projects the mysterious blankness normally reserved for A-list actresses, becoming a human canvas on which we can project our fantasies. He's testosterone's answer to the ingenue.

Indeed, Hollywood's rules of attraction can be a little bizarre. Generally speaking, the leading man is fully developed while his female counterpart serves as beautiful accessory. Men want her; women want to be her. She may scamper about being "quirky" and getting her Manolo Blahniks caught in sewers, a feat so famously accomplished by J. Lo in The Wedding Planner. She may blink behind smart-girl glasses and sigh in wistful wait for a man to sweep her off her feet, as per Julia Roberts - henceforth to be known as J. Ro. - in America's Sweethearts. She may giggle profusely, jump into a convertible, and abscond to far-off karaoke bars frequented by undesirables, a la Britney Spears in Crossroads. She may pull an Anabella Sciorra in Mr. Wonderful and divorce working-class hubby Matt Dillon (another flawless specimen) only to realize that first love is all there is. In extreme cases, she may even die, collapsing repeatedly before succumbing to tragic illness, as did the frail Charlize Theron in Sweet November.

Charlize got to make out with Keanu, so her motivations may have been somewhat unique. But as for the rest of the lot, these actresses have beauty, they have brains, they have power. As evidenced by public fascination with their real-life romances - and ensuing scandals - these women are far more complex than their on-screen personas would have us believe. So why perpetuate romantic mythology? Because the sweet sentimentality with which viewers and actors alike identify with said romance proves old habits die hard - and old clichés fit smoothly into prose.

We've heard the criticisms of Hollywood romance a billion times and then some: the unrealistic knight-in-shining armour myth encourages passivity, they say, and doesn't prepare people for the reality of romance. True that. But this rhetoric has become as tiresome as the clichés! Pre-stereotype classics like Room With A View are perfectly charming, and the romantic myths we criticize are, more often than not, the fodder of our secret fantasises. To look into someone's eyes and know that you've known him forever is a timeless human experience that transcends our attempts to interpret it. Yet the appeal of nostalgia should not be underestimated, particularly during this post-everything age of jaded confusion. There's something comforting about tradition, a sense of hope and reassurance that accompanies tear-jerking tales of romance, Hollywood style. Although I generally frown upon third-act introductions of fatal diseases, I cried like a schoolgirl at the end of Sweet November, perversely enjoying every tear.
Blame it on Keanu.

DON'T go to some site with the word "Pacer" in it for matrix news. I suspect it's spoilerific since it looks like there's like a HUGE spoiler in the newsfeed summary!
Huge to me anyway.
I NEED a mind eraser!
fuck.

I'm thinking I may have to go ahead and get Much Ado on DVD...., even though I'm really trying NOT to convert my video collection over. I mean, it seems so silly, unless there are really good extras or something.

1) DOGSTAR ~ would be cool, doubtful availability.
2) KRIX - or KRIXORG ~ for me, my domain ...dunno, maybe. I don't want to have to explain the ORG
3) THE ONE ~ possibly seen as arrogant, if you don't know the Neo connection, but bite me, it's cool. Again, probably not available.

I'm trying to avoid anything with missing letters. That's the problem with what I have now, MTRXHZU, for Matrix Has You. No one knows what the hell it says.

No, I won't get KEANU.

I'm toying with IT WAHS. Yeah, even more esoteric, but what the hell...you can at least tell what it says, even if you don't know what it means.

So if you can come up with any ideas - seven letters, including spaces - let me know.

There's a commercial for digital cable that's set in the "competitor's" training class room. The instructor opens up with "Pop Quiz....(something about something)"....now, that alone registers as a Keanu connection in my twisted brain. But what is the name of the first person he calls on?

That's right...Jack.

Sometimes I find it difficult to attribute these things to coincidence.

In other news, I finally got around to getting new shoes. On sale, even. So of course, I had to buy a matching fringey purse because I really don't have anything in brown. Or fringes.

I can't decide if they're the cutest or ugliest boots I've ever owned, but I do know that they are the tallest. I'm five foot ten, so I don't usually wear much of heel, and my feet aren't used to it. It's a satisfying pain though. Makes a girl feel alive. They do give me a nice swish when I walk, too. I can feel my IQ dropping with every step.
I could look Keanu Reeves straight in the eye in these boots. And I sure hope there would be something to that eye contact, because I'll be depending on him to pick my ass up off the ground once I inevitably fall off of them when I take a step.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your birthday season begins now,
Aquarius. It doesn't matter whether the official date is today or
in 25 days: You have astrological permission and poetic license
to launch the celebration immediately and not finish up until
February 18. May I suggest a few gifts you might give yourself
in the course of this glorious personal festival? To start off,
present yourself with something luxurious, sensual, and elegant.
Two days later, treat yourself to something bold, brash, and
bright. Next, how about a legal high? And after that, maybe a
secret weapon, followed by a magical tool, and then a map to
buried treasure. Before you're done almost four weeks from
now, I hope you will have blessed yourself with at least seven
exciting surprises.

And here's Keanu's...

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You may be able to elude the cosmic
jokes that are brewing in your vicinity. Your intelligence is
both crafty and practical these days, and it could very well keep
you consistently in the right places at the right times. But in
order to grab an extra advantage in your guerrilla battle with
the forces of mischief, I suggest you indulge regularly in a good,
long primal scream. Go out in the middle of the woods if
necessary, or find a sanctuary where no one will call the cops:
Just find a way to unleash a soul-cleansing howl that will flush
away your festering anxieties. There's no better technique for
making yourself unappealing to rascally demons and pests.

This picture is from today's Variety. Thanks again to Elsinore for sending it out.

With just over 100 days until the release of Reloaded (with Revolutions following sometime in November), the buzz machine is going to be humming along with increasing intensity for these movies. With any other project I would be wary of the product not living up to the hype, but with The Matrix Trilogy, I think we are going to be blown away beyond our expectations.
Just the stills of the fight sequences alone are breathtaking. I can only imagine what it's going to be like, larger than life, in motion.

Pop quiz, Keanu Reeves is standing behind you in line to buy popcorn. What do you do?
(June 16, 2001) One day a friend of mine, Matt , and I went to go see an early morning showing of Tomb Raider. I got up early that day (6AM) to get in an 18-mile run as part of my training for the SF Marathon in 3 weeks. I finished the run in 2 hours 50 minutes. Really good for me. So afterwards, I get home really tired and call Matt up to ask him if he wants to go see a matinee of Tomb Raider at the AMC 1000. I fully expected him to not even be awake, since he's been out of work for four months. But he was up early since he just got a job and he's starting the following Monday. Not only was he awake, but he was fully showered and ready to go. So he shows up at my place around 10:35 just in time to catch the 11:00AM showing. We get to the theater and Matt drops me off to buy the tickets while he parks the car. I get in line and I see a kind of tall skinny guy by himself wearing a black sports coat with a major case of bedhead in front of me. And I'm all like what kind of nut wears a sports coat on a hot day like today. When he turned around after buying his ticket, I immediately recognized him as Keanu Reeves.

And all of a sudden, I'm all freaking out. I'm actually more freaked out that nobody else is freaking out from the fact that the guy who starred in the Matrix is in the same building! "Like why is nobody freaking out that Keanu Reeves is here?" I think to myself. It must not be him. But it *could* be since I knew they were shooting the Matrix 2 here right about now. After I buy our tickets, I meet Matt at the parking garage elevators and tell him that I saw a guy who looked exactly like Keanu Reeves. The guy taking tickets at the escalator of the theater overhears me and confirms that I did in fact see the star of Point Break. "Whoah!" I think to myself, doing a mental impression of the man who was in such movies as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and My Own Private Idaho. I wasn't sure what movie he was there to see though.

After we find our theater (AMC 1000 has 16 screens), Foster leaves to use the restroom while I buy popcorn. While I'm waiting, I turn around and see the star of Speed behind me, talking to another movie patron. The patron asks him if he's shooting the Matrix sequels over in Alameda. The Rivers Edge star confirms this. I order my large popcorn meanwhile. As I'm waiting for my popcorn, the concession worker opens up another register and the patron talking to Keanu leaves him to place his order at the newly opened register. So I seize the opportunity and continue the other patron's converstation with Keanu, all the while hoping for Matt to hurry up and get out of the restroom so he can see me talking to the guy who was in Feeling Minnesota.

So, when are you guys going to finish shooting?

Around August 12th or 13th.

Cool. When's it coming out?

Sometime in like 2003.

Wow, that's like a long time from now.

Yeah.

My popcorn is finally ready at that point and I pay for it and get my change and I'm still hoping Foster would hurry up and come out and see that the guy who was in Bram Stoker's Dracula was behind me in line to buy popcorn. I walk slow enough away from the line to hear Keanu order a medium popcorn. Finally, Matt comes out and I'm like totally motioning for him to look behind me to see Keanu without making it look obvious that I'm freaking out over the fact that the guy who was in the Devil's Advocate is going to be seeing Tomb Raider with us. Matt sees him and is like, "yup, that's him." And I'm like, "Duh, dude. I just talked to him about the Matrix 2!"

In an effort to push this store stuff down the page, I googled keanu+happy to try and find something filled with sunshine and rainbows and cute little bunnies.

I found this transcript of a chat with Dogstar.
(I'll keep looking for bunnies, though)

Dogstar: Hi There!!

MiCi: Oh, btw…!Welcome to the Arena!

Dogstar: Hellooooo!!!!

MiCi: I've been listening to your CD, "Happy Ending" and just love it. How has the initial response been now that it is out as a single?

Dogstar: We've had some good response from radio and some friends...

MiCi: If this audience is any example, I'm guessing the response is HUGE.

Dogstar: and the band likes the record ;)

MiCi: Going straight to audience questions...from Mouse: Do you anticipate a Dogstar tour in 2001?

Dogstar: No...

Dogstar: Just kidding…we don't know. Hopefully!

From Julie Arebalo: I just want to say I first saw the band in 96 in Dallas,TX and again in 97. you have to come back soon! Dallas,Tx supports you. I love the song "Bleeding Soul". Hurry back! Please!!!

Dogstar: We like Dallas, we'll be back soon!!

From alcyone7485: who wanted 'Superstar' and what did the other 2 think when they heard the orginal.

Dogstar: What a great song...We all thought it was great...we all had different relationships to the song...similar and different...the consciousness of how we heard it was different. We all collectively heard it…when we started to play it live we all really enjoyed it and the audience really enjoyed it…so we started playing it.

From Mouse: To all: Thinking back on when you were around 12, did you think you would be doing this? (playing in a band)

Dogstar: Yes, yes…and Keanu says "dunno"

MiCi: Still more childhood questions...from notastateofgrace: What's the most important advice your mother ever gave you?

MiCi: Ok...we really appreciate you taking time to chat with us…your fans are loyal and enthusiastic!

Dogstar: it's been an exhausting time but we're happy…

MiCi: Your fans appreciate the time! You guys ROCK!

Dogstar: Thank YOU!!!! Bye bye :)

MiCi: For the fans, we have their website to send you…so hang on one moment. We were VERY LUCKY to get this chat…(thinking) they had to cancel a lot of interviews because they are crazed getting ready…so....YOU SAW IT ON PALACE! woohoo! Before we close, please join me in thanking Fossil watches for bringing us today's event with Dogstar. (thinking) they also ROCK.

The keanuvision store is no more.
It seems both the "I [heart] whatthefuckever" and Mr. Reeves' first name "can constitute both copyright and trademark infringement", and it has been closed.

I really didn't think that they did, but I guess I can see how they do, so rather than argue it I'm just going to say thank you to those that have helped support the site by buying items from the store, hang on to them because they're irreplacable now.

And I'd like to apologize to whoever owns the rights to "I [heart] whatthefuckever" and to all the Keanus of the world.
Please don't sue me.

It's just as well...with the CDs and postage I was actually losing money.

So now, the only way to support the site is to tell me you love me.
It's cheap and priceless at the same time.

When posed with the question:
"Of course, when your face goes up on the cover of a magazine and they have the words "sex symbol" underneath that, do you just block that out?"

Keanu Reeves replies:
"What do I do with that? It's changed over the years. Basically, I try to -- I think of it as an alternate universe. Once in a while, the gravity from that universe has an effect, but most of the time I try to, you know, not deal with it because it is, you know, it's a fantasy aspect of it, you know. And I hope people enjoy the films I act in, I hope they enjoy my performance. I hope for all of that. But in terms of, like, you know, the top 50, the top 100, the most big, all of that kind of stuff, it's -- it's surreal, to say the least."

As usual, this is unofficial because nothing has been decided, but I wanted to let all you fans know that DogStar has decided to take a meeting to evaluate their next plan of action. Two shows have been offered to them (not including the possible return to Japan that the promoter offered last year), but I hesitate to mention locations because as I mentioned nothing as been decided. However, should the shows be accepted you can bet that the band will certainly be back in the studio writing new material because the old material is...well, old ^_^ They are all hungry to play again, and once they write a new album you can pretty much bet they will be getting ready to release it and tour to promote it. So, sit tight and know that this year might be a kick off to new things coming.

I know that you guys have been frustrated with the inactivity of DogStar, but with Keanu filming for a year it has been difficult to get the band together. Now that he is finished there will be more time to work on music. Bret and Rob have both been working on their own musical projects but have shown ample ambition to get back to working with the entire band.

Hopefully they will nail down some sort of an agenda next week and I will let you guys know if anything pops up. Bret is still considering releasing his solo album, but he hasn't fully decided yet. Rob has been in the recording studio working on a new project as well, but I am unsure as to where any of that will land. I'm sure you all wish them both luck with their respective projects.

The Issue: In a bid to provide a new revenue stream for Keanugolia's Beef-Based Agriculture industry, it has been suggested that Dogstar could be added to the menu.

The Debate

#1 ) "The fact is, the Dogstar population is out of control," says Beef-Based Agriculture spokesperson Violet du Pont. "We have to do something about them anyway, so why not market them as tasty snacks? We could have dogstar kebabs, dogstar pies, dogstar-on-a-sticks--the possibilities are endless! Let's not pass up this golden opportunity to provide a feast, if you will, for our economy."

#2 ) "I agree that something needs to be done about Dogstar over-population," says random passer-by Anne-Marie Chicago, "but eating them? That's kind of gross. Let's just shoot the ones we have to and shovel their bodies into ditches like normal."

#3 )"I am shocked and appalled!" declared SPCA President Jessica Hanover. "If anyone needs to be culled, it's us humans. The Dogstar were here first, remember? We need to take this as a sign to get our industry--agriculture in particular--to back off. The Dogstar is part of what makes Keanugolia a great nation!"

I'm having a little trouble getting behind the "overpopulation" arguments. As far as I can tell, Dogstar has been more of a rare and endangered species these days.
I'm leaning toward supporting position #3, in spite of the fact that Ms. Hanover continues to annoy me by referring to them as The Dogstar.
I think she may be on the crack.

Nothing brightens the end of a long day like the unexpected visit of a sweet little cocker spaniel* named "Buffy" to the office. So cute.
Bobbed tail wagging, trembling with the excitement of all the new atmosphere and smells, bright-eyed and paws up on the lap, basking and revelling in the "wuppy widdle puppers" attention.....

I'm am an utterly horrid little beast for not participating in yesterday's Blogger Lovefest.
I started a post and realized that there was no way I could pick just one, or five or twelve...and it seemed like cheating to post my whole blogroll.

But I really do adore everyone. I'm just not used to being demonstrative for being demonstrative's sake.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the video for her song, "I'm Gonna Getcha Good," Virgo singer Shania Twain portrays a flying robot chased by the devil. The powers-that-be at MTV were so impressed that they awarded it "Most Demented Video by a Country Artist" for 2002. I hope that in the coming weeks the rest of you Virgos will unleash your imagination with the same fervor that Twain summoned. Not only is there no need for you to stick to humdrum traditions; your best chance at being happy and fulfilled between now and February 15 is if you think way, way outside the box.

Sun in Virgo
HELPFUL SELF-EXPRESSION
How is it that people tend to associate perfectionism with you? Can it be that people think that you're essentially level- headed? Do you have a flair for statistics and analysis? Is it that you're highly selective and discriminating? What about your inquiries and examinations? Probably, you are more practical and methodical than the average person. You are not prone to brag or boast and can handle money well.

John Constantine, has been to Hell and back... Using his knowlege of the occult, he wages a war against the demons among us. With the help of a female police officer, Constantine finds himself face to face with the agents of darkness called the "First of the Fallen".

Will mankind survive, will John and his trademark trenchcoat escape the demons' clutches?? We'll have to wait and see as [ Nicholas CageKeanu Reeves ] becomes... CONSTANTINE.

Now, there was also some understandable confusion over just what the hell was going on, since Lorenzo di Bonaventura was reported to be involved in a Constantin film project, but one based on the historic figure, not the occultist of the Hellblazer comic series. So is Keanu going to play the "right bastard" John Constantine or the Roman Emporer?

Comics2Film followed up on Lorenzo di Bonaventura story from Wednesdays trades with regards to the former studio big wig's involvement with the Constantine movie.

While both Hollywood trades indicated di Bonaventura's first project as a producer would be a movie called Constantine (or Constantin) the reports conflicted as to what the nature of the project is.

A source close to the development effort of the Hellblazer adaptation told C2F that as far as he knows di Bonaventura is not coming on board the comic book movie.

The Di Bonaventura project will be a historical epic concerning the Roman emperor, as was reported in Variety. At this point both projects have the same (or similar) titles. Perhaps the comic book movie could be retitled John Constantine: Hellblazer.

Our source also confirms that Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) whose name has been mentioned in a couple of recent articles is, in fact, attached to the project. However, he has not signed to appear in the movie at this point.

Or at least it's going to be once he signs. If he signs.Augh, this is all too much for me. I remember the good old days when I just watched a movie when it came out. Now I'm buying books and comics on mere speculation.

In any case, I won't be buying a lot of Emporer Constantin shwag.
I did however snag that nifty little John Constantine action figure today.

On the first night I ever saw you
From the first time I ever felt your skin
I figured things a little strange
As I began to rearrange myself
When the first sunlight started to appear
I would turn to see if you were here
I harbored not a single doubt
Just had to find what you're about inside
I couldn't seem to say good night
Until I heard you say alright to me
Excuse me my dear - I just had to say
It's hell without you here
And all my dreams are full of fear
But there's honesty anyway
The first time I knew I made a choice
Is when I heard the low-down
Sullen sound of your voice
I harbored not a single doubt
Just had to find what you're about inside
I couldn't seem to say good night
Until I heard you say alright to me
Excuse me my dear - I just had to say
It's hell without you here
And all my dreams are full of fear
But there's honesty anyway
Just had to let you know
Feels like hell when you're not home
And I sleep alone
But there's honesty anyway

Between going through all of my concert pictures for Dogstarfans egroup this week and seeing Rob appear on this week's CSI, I'm really jonesing for a concert.

I've got an itch and only a dogpaw can scratch it.

In an effort to put out some good karma and spread the Dogstar love, I'm going to give away 5 QF CDs to the first 5 comments that want one. ( I know I don't have to mention this, but 1 per person, mmmkay?)

Be sure you leave a legit email (you can use a spamblock, but make sure I can figure out your addy - if you don't want your email appearing on site, put something in the URL space) and I will email you back for your address.

I wasn't going to use this famous picture by Greg Gorman as an Ass Friday picture. It was just way too obvious.
But when I saw this signed version I changed my mind.

It's stuff like this, confirming that Mr. Reeves has a sense of humor that makes me think "Oh, I would much rather spend an evening talking and goofing around with this guy than getting naked and messing up his sheets..."

Of course, then I look again and start to waver.

But honestly, if given the choice between making this guy laugh or making him come.....I'd choose the first one.

Just as mutually satisfying and less clean-up.

I suppose I wouldn't complain if one led to the other, however.

This picture was sent out earlier in the week by the Pic-of-the-Day club.
Thank you to Margarete.

Kat turned me onto NationStates.net, which is some sort of game. I think.
All I know is that I got to create my own little country, to rule as I see fit.
Every day you address issues that effect the development of your nation.
There's also a whole R P G thing going on in the forum, I don't know if I'll get into that. Seems like a good way to get invaded if you ask me, and I'm happy off in my own little corner of the world at this point.
Of course, that could all change once I amass my army of genetically engineered Jack Travens.
::maniacal laughter::

The Rogue Nation of Keanugolia is a tiny, devout nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 6 million have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government is mainly concerned with Religion & Spirituality, although Education and Social Welfare are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 19%. A substantial private sector is led by the Trout Farming industry, followed by Arms Manufacturing and Cheese Exports.

Surveillance cameras are banned. Crime is a problem, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Keanugolia's national animal is the dogstar and its currency is the duder.

I don't know who you are, but your ass needs to return the copy of Koyaanisqatsi that I have been waiting over 57 days for.
I can't watch Powaqqatsi until I see the first one again.
If I get my hands on Naqoyqatsi before you, rest assured I will hold onto it just out of spite.

And to whomever it is that has caused Me & Will to be completely unavailable at Netflix.....

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): "Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?" Philosophers long ago stopped trying to solve these questions, says biologist E.O. Wilson, believing them to be unanswerable. Scientists subsequently stepped forward to fill the vacuum, and now act as supreme arbiters of the mysteries that once belonged to philosophers. I regard this as a loss. Though the scientific method is a tremendous tool for understanding the world, many scientists refuse to use it to study phenomena that can't be repeated under controlled conditions or that can't be explained by current models of reality. And I say it's impossible to explore the Big Three Questions without taking into account all that stuff. Which brings me to the crux, Virgo: Your assignment in 2003 is to bring the disciplined objectivity of the scientific method into areas of your life that are invisible, subtle, secret, and soulful.

So I had nothing better to do, so I thought I'd screw up the site just so I can fix it.
Not really, but I decided to make a few changes because I'm stressing about bandwidth. I'm running at about 80% of my allowance and I don't know what I'm going to do when the TM2&3 come out. I've talked to my host and the cost of getting more bandwidth is incredibly high.
Basically, I've removed the keywords for those movies from my META tags. There are a lot better places to end up on a search than here. I've also noticed that the category that has to do with that little game I play has been getting a lot of traffic. It's graphic heavy and a bandwith hog. So I've changed the name of the category to "simulation" and re-spelled all references to said game to "S!ms" (with a ! for the i - that was the screwing up part. The auto-replacer not only changed the spelling in the titles and entries, but in all the filenames and hyperlinks, too. So I had to go back and fix them). Hopefully that way, people searching for stuff to do with the game won't end up loading that big bandwidth sucking category page.
If that doesn't help I may get rid of that particular category.
The entries will still be there, just not all one one page

I'm going to see how it goes for the next few months.

For those interested (some of them are amusing), here's some search stats:

Thank you to Amy, AKA Patchfairy for the groovin' Keanu checkbook cover!
I ordered several of her patchwork purses for christmas gifts recently and my friends were really happy with them (of course, I kept one for myself too, and I LUFF it.) She has a huge variety of different subjects for her products and I will say that they are really well made.
So if you're looking for a unique gift, please check out her eBay store.

Keanu Reeves will literally suck in this indie comedy about a man with an oral fixation. He goes to a psychologist to try to cure his thumb-sucking habit though hypnosis. Will it work? Only time will tell...

One of the resolutions I made for myself this year was being a more active member of the Blogosphere. This includes being less shy about commenting on other people's blogs and participating in various other forms of fellowship.
So I've entered wKen's photo contest, the theme being "I Love ____."

I finished reading Thumbsucker, by Walter Kirn yesterday.
Funny how I get all freaky about avoiding spoilers for The Matrix films, but I go out and buy a book because Keanu is doing the movie. I did it with Hardball, too.
Anyway...
I read about 60% of the book the first night I picked it up, another good chunk the second night and then it took me a week to get through the last 30 pages. Maybe I was just sleepy.
It's a good book. The focus on the "oral fixation" isn't what I expected, in fact about a third of the way through the book, you kind of forget why this kid, Justin Cobb, is doing the things he does to fill the void. The things he does all sound pretty normal to me.....maybe I had a fucked-up childhood and don't realize it.
*shrug*
So anyway, it's not a bad book, really. I imagine it will make a good screenplay. I mean, I'd bet a lot of stories look pretty lame on paper, but make a good movie, right? I was discussing it with a friend and she pointed out that since the concept is a bit unique, as long as it has some well written dialogue, it should be a good film. It will be interesting to see what parts of the book make it into the movie.
I don't want to give too much away.
I figure the part the Keanu will play will be the dentist that hypnotizes Justin in order to break him of his habit, Perry Lyman.
He's a crucial character, though not a major one, if that makes any sense. And he goes through some changes himself during the course of the story.
He's interesting and I'm sure that Keanu will play him well. Plus, his voice is so naturally hypnotic that those scenes are bound to be quite....um....intense? Something.